Magical Mathematics by Persi Diaconis - Book

Magical Mathematics reveals the secrets of fun-to-perform card tricks―and the profound mathematical ideas behind them―that will astound even the most accomplished magician. Persi Diaconis and Ron Graham provide easy, step-by-step instructions for each trick, explaining how to set up the effect and offering tips on what to say and do while performing it. Each card trick introduces a new mathematical idea, and varying the tricks in turn takes readers to the very threshold of today's mathematical knowledge.

Diaconis and Graham tell the stories―and reveal the best tricks―of the eccentric and brilliant inventors of mathematical magic. The book exposes old gambling secrets through the mathematics of shuffling cards, explains the classic street-gambling scam of three-card Monte, traces the history of mathematical magic back to the oldest mathematical trick―and much more.

"Finally a book that celebrates the math involved in magic. This is quite simply the most brilliant book ever written on this mind-blowing, highly secretive field."- David Blaine

"A remarkably appealing concoction of conjuring, invention, education, science, homage, and memoir―it is like no other book in the long history of magic." - Ricky Jay

• Publisher: ‎Princeton University Press; Illustrated edition (October 23, 2011)
• Language: ‎English
• Hardcover: ‎264 pages
• Dimensions: ‎8.71 x 0.81 x 9.65 inches